The days of using WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal without a working SIM card are over. The Indian government has dropped a game-changing rule that forces every messaging app to stay permanently tied to an active SIM. Starting within the next 90 days, millions of Indians will lose access to their favourite chat apps the moment their SIM becomes inactive, gets removed or switches off, or runs out of validity. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) calls this the biggest step yet to kill online fraud and make every message traceable. So, read ahead to learb everything about this WhatsApp SIM linkage new upcoming rule.
WhatsApp SIM Linkage: What Changes From February 2026
From now, these rules apply to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, ShareChat, JioChat, Arattai, Josh and every other over-the-top messaging service:
Also Read: WhatsApp On Apple Watch: How To Set It Up & Use It Like A Pro!
- Your phone MUST have the same active SIM that you used to register the account
- If the SIM is removed, deactivated or expires, the app will stop working instantly
- Web and desktop versions will log you out every 6 hours – you need to scan a fresh QR code from your phone to log back in
- Apps now fall under the new “Telecommunication Identifier User Entity” (TIUE) category and face the same strict rules as telecom companies
The government says criminals currently register accounts once, remove the SIM and keep scamming forever. This new WhatsApp SIM linkage rule closes that door forever.
Will It Really Stop Fraud? Experts Are Divided
Supporters, including the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), celebrate the move of WhatsApp SIM linkage:
- Creates unbreakable traceability between user → number → device
- Makes location logs and call data requests useful again for police
- Already works perfectly in banking and UPI apps
But cybersecurity experts warn it may not help much:
- Fraudsters can still buy new SIMs with fake or borrowed IDs
- Real privacy-conscious users (journalists, activists) will suffer the most
- Forces constant internet + active SIM even for simple web login
WhatsApp and Telegram have not officially reacted yet, but the clock is ticking – all platforms have just 90 days to roll out these changes. Get ready: very soon, “No SIM, No WhatsApp” will become reality for 1.4 billion Indians.
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